Teaching All-But-One
 

Need some help. I have to go over rule 10 for our association next week. In reviewing the all but one (AB1) I think the hardest part is the concept of "play" (ie loose ball, running, dead ball). I think that most people equate "play" with "down". It is hard to grasp that there may be more than one "play" within a "down". I believe it would be easier to teach if we replaced "play" with "action" in going over the AB1.

Example: "A foul during a loose ball play is enforced from the previous spot."

Becomes: "A foul during loose ball action is enforced from the previous spot."

Does this work?

Am I going to screw these young officials up?

Some good stuff on Grant's website. I think Bob M and I have one on penalty enforcement and all but one. http://home.comcast.net/~minnmo/football.htm

I read this every year and conveniently have it listed in my internet favorites. I forget who wrote this but this person is on this (and other) forums. Just another unselfish official who wishes to share his explanations with everyone so they too can get this nailed.

An excellent write-up!

http://www.footballrefs.com/show_article.php?id=1

Simplified & Illustrated...
 

draws up the scenario pretty well.

Getting "basic spot" across is the first hurdle.

That is a good article.

I feel that I have a good grasp on the "all-but-one principle", but.....

Something that always causes me to say "what???" on this issue is the wording "...backward pass (including the snap)".

It seems to me that except for free kicks, every down starts with a snap. I know that every play isn't a loose ball play, but this wording makes it seem that way.

Why is this wording used?

I think it is worded this way to remind you that a ball bouncing around from a messed up snap is a loose ball play. If the snapped ball makes it successfully into player possession, now it is a running play....